A real-life Captain Bligh

By Ken MacQueen - Friday, July 23, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 0 Comments

Sometimes, when you want something badly enough, you suspend disbelief, hearing only what you wish to hear. Boguslaw “Rob” Norwind knew this instinctively, as misanthropic as he was by all accounts. And so the shadowy owner and skipper of the Discovery Sailing Academy, who also uses the surnames Norwid and Norwid-Niepoko, painted beautiful word pictures in the brochures he distributed to South American hostels and in sales pitches emailed to would-be sailors.

For free spirits like Lisa Hanlon of Nelson B.C., and Josée “Jade” Chabot of Montreal, the lure was irresistible: a sailing adventure in the South Pacific. Norwind promised a ticket to freedom: the chance to earn a Yachtmaster Offshore certificate, qualifying them to skipper commercial, ocean-going yachts. “Our goals are to help you learn how to manage a ship, healthy living, respect for others and self-discipline on the high seas,” Norwind wrote in an email this January to Hanlon, already a seasoned traveller at 22. He promised “a relaxed atmosphere of watching and filming whales, dolphins, turtles and oceanic birds. Sundowners and music will soothe the soul and sore muscles at the end of each sailing day. The camaraderie of the sea!”

Continue…

Follow the Intrepid Explorer; One-Stop Arizona Shopping

By Takeoffeh.com - Monday, July 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM - 0 Comments

Celebrated Explorer to Lead Tours to the Far Corners of the Earth
Kensington Tours is a different kind of tour operator. It is the creation of explorer and Royal Geographic Society Fellow Jeff Willner, whose passion for travel was incubated during a youth spent in Africa. He’s now a veteran of expeditions to over 70 countries. During his years of travel, Willner realized the vast difference between a typical package tour and a journey of personal discovery — where the deep knowledge and personal attention of a local guide transforms a trip into an experience. While private-guided touring sounds like it would be prohibitively expensive to most, Kensington’s private tours with guide, vehicle and driver are on average 30% lower in cost than group tours offered by other quality travel companies.

Willner says he is now taking his vision to a new level with an Explorer-In-Residence program which will launch tourism to the Congo. The first member explorer is Mikael Strandberg, considered one of the 50 most important explorers on earth by the London-based Royal Geographical Society. Willner and Strandberg recently undertook a scouting mission to The Democratic Republic of Congo to assess its potential and readiness as a destination for intrepid travellers. Congo itineraries – featuring endangered Eastern Lowland Gorillas, Pygmy tribes and the Nyiragongo volcano – will be the first in the Expedition Series. Other trips under development include Antarctica with polar explorers, motorcycle safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and Russia, a deep dive submarine trip into the Cayman Trench and cultural discoveries in Yemen, Oman and North Korea. These itineraries will appeal to intrepid global explorers, but not all of Kensington’s offerings are so exotic or demanding – there’s everything from a four-day tour of Montreal and Quebec City to a seven-day Costa Rica discovery tour.

For Peat’s Sake: Porter Puts The Fun Back In Flying
Many Porter Airlines passengers have a nose for business. Now Porter is betting they have a nose for fine Scotch too. The airline has partnered with Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt, on a time-limited pre-flight experience for travellers departing from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Until July 23, Porter customers can participate in a guided tasting of the Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old single malts. Experienced “Malt Specialists” will be on-hand to lead travellers through the nuances and subtleties of tasting and understanding the complex but rewarding world of single malts. “We place a great deal of emphasis on each detail making up the overall passenger experience,” says Porter CEO Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “Partnering with Glenfiddich is a new way we can make the journey for travellers as enjoyable as the destination itself.” Whisky nosings will be offered to Porter passengers between 4:00 and 8:00 PM on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through July 23.

Website Features Arizona Summer Bargains
The Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) has launched a website featuring packages created by the state’s many tourism providers. The website is aimed at state residents in a bid to boost tax revenues through domestic tourism, but it is open to Canadians as well, providing a one-stop shop of travel deals available around the state through the end of September. Tourism is big business in the Grand Canyon State – in 2008 visitors spent $18.5 billion in Arizona and the industry employs nearly 200,000 residents. The Travel Deals section of the website is packed with special offers on hotels and lodging, vacation packages, seasonal specials, outdoor adventures, golf and sport trips, dining and more. There are literally hundreds of offers featured on the site, including a one-night stay at the Days Inn Lake Havasu and a two-hour Jet Ski rental for just $100, or an overnight stay with unlimited golf and cart for just $45 per person per night at the Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort.

Photo Credits: travel.nationalgeographic.com, arizonaguide.com, glenfiddich.com

Airline Alliances

By Takeoffeh.com - Monday, July 19, 2010 at 10:37 AM - 0 Comments

For frequent flyers, airline alliances are a way of life. Oneworld, Star Alliance, SkyTeam – they all claim to offer travellers the world on a silver wing. In looking into why the airlines formed these global agreements, it’s clear there are many advantages for them. But what about for you?

Alliances were created by airlines for airlines – they are businesses after all. The initial idea was to extend their networks through code-sharing agreements – in other words, while airline A may not fly directly to your destination, they can take you part of the way and hand you over to partner Airline B, who does. The appearance of a relatively seamless trip extends to selling the flights as being on one carrier – from the search results to ticketing.

Since governments are notoriously protective of their national airlines, they make the creation of global brands extremely difficult. Alliances have created a way to get around many of those obstacles.

Formed in 1997, Star Alliance was the first and remains the largest, with 28 members including Air Canada. More than 500 million passengers fly with Star Alliance members each year. Oneworld was next. Launched in 1999 it has just 11 members, but they include biggies like American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. SkyTeam is the youngest of the group, formed in 2000 and featuring a dozen members. Together, the three alliances represent almost three-quarters of global air travel.

As alliances have grown in size and importance, they’ve also expanded in scope. Member airlines now share sales offices, maintenance, catering and IT facilities, operational staff and purchasing programs. These add up to cost savings that have become all but essential in a highly competitive marketplace.

So what’s in it for you? Frequently cited alliance benefits to travellers include lower fares due to lower operational costs, more departure times to choose from on a given route, easier access to more destinations, optimized connections, easier access to shared airport lounges and the ability to earn mileage rewards from multiple carriers for a single account.

Critics say alliances can have negative impacts on customers too, such as higher fares when competition on specific routes is reduced and less frequent flights on shared routes. And avid flyers and mileage collectors complain about variations in perks and policies between members of the same alliance. “There are still really deep pockets of incompatibility. It’s not always what it’s cracked up to be,” said Randy Petersen, founder of FlyerTalk.com, in a recent Wall Street Journal article.

Despite some complaints, for most frequent flyers the biggest attraction of alliances is earning miles and enjoying privileges like priority check-in, boarding and lounge access. Flying isn’t much fun these days and anything that eases the pain is welcome. In fact, alliances have now become so important for miles and perks that picking an alliance may be more important than picking an airline.

A recent Wall Street Journal article rated the three alliances on a variety of measures. For example, it suggested that using mileage points for a free ticket or to upgrade from economy to business class is generally easier if you’re a Star Alliance member. It found that airport lounge access is often better for frequent fliers at Oneworld. Overall, though, the Wall Street Journal gave decent marks to all three alliances, giving Star an A-, Oneworld a B and SkyTeam a B-.

Airline alliances have become a critical component of the industry and will remain so well into the future. “Alliances exist because airlines cannot offer comprehensive global coverage the way consumer brands like Nescafé or Coca-Cola do,” aviation consultant Olivier Fainsilber recently told Agence France Presse. “Everyone wins with alliances, which is why airlines and travellers like them and competition authorities accept them.”

Image Credits: DSGpro, staralliance.com, oneworld.com

This week's travel news

By Bruce Parkinson, Takeoffeh.com - Monday, July 12, 2010 at 9:57 AM - 0 Comments

There’s Gold In Them Islands: Caribbean Tourism Worth $12 Billion
There are few places that equal the Caribbean when it comes to sun, sand and sea pleasures. There’s no place that equals the region for dependence on tourism. A recent impact study found that the Caribbean travel and tourism industry will earn $12 billion this year and account for 1.9 million direct and indirect jobs – or one in every nine jobs in the region. Tourism’s contribution to regional GDP is over 4% directly, but tops 12% on a broader impact measure. For some destinations, the impact is even more profound: tourism is responsible for one in four jobs on the island of Jamaica and 27.7% of the island’s GDP. In a statement delivering the study results, UK-based Oxford Economics said “Our research indicates that travel and tourism play a proportionately stronger role in both GDP and employment creation [in the Caribbean] than in any other comparable region,” As history has shown, such a disproportionately high dependence on tourism can be as precarious as it is profitable, as natural disasters and civil unrest can quickly slow the flow of visitors.

Hotel Industry Recovery: As Rooms Fill, Rates Will Rise
Industry analysts and hoteliers agree that 2009 was the worst year in the history of the hotel business. Not surprisingly, they’re only admitting that now as fortunes appear to be on the rise again — it doesn’t do to preach doom when you’re still trying to sell franchises or attract investors. What that means for travellers is that rate increases are just around the corner. As Business Travel News reported this week, a recent investment conference in New York gave lodging leaders a forum to express their recession experiences. “What happened last year was really the perfect storm,” said Best Western CEO David Kong. “Demand went down substantially, almost 6 percent, and at the same time supply grew by 3.2 percent.” “Corporate business just fell off a cliff,” said Monty Bennett, CEO of upscale hotel owner Ashford Hospitality. “When all these companies cut back all corporate travel, they made their profits by cutting expenses. Now that they’re looking to grow profits, they can’t cut expenses anymore.” The turnaround is underway, with hotels reporting higher occupancy through the first few months of 2010. Rates, which plummeted to very consumer-friendly levels during the recession, have yet to bounce back, but hoteliers believe that’s just a matter of time.

Cruising Canucks: Sea-Based Vacations Are Fastest-Growing Segment
More Canadians are walking the gangplank – and paying for the privilege. A new study reveals that cruises make up the fastest growing segment of Canada’s travel market. Industry researcher PhoCusWright Inc. says cruises fit well with the Canadian appetite for all-inclusive package vacations – even though most cruises don’t include things like alcohol in the price. Over the past couple of years cruises have certainly appealed to Canadians’ appetite for bargains. When many Americans stayed home during the worst of the recession, prices plummeted and less-impacted Canadians happily took their place – Canadian cruisers grew by 5% in 2008 and “a stunning 9% in 2009″ during the recession. Another interesting result from the study: 27% of Canadian travellers surveyed said they usually book through traditional travel agencies, compared to just 13%of American travellers. Meanwhile, the cruise industry continues to generate reams of press with product enhancements. Norwegian Cruise Line, which has struggled in recent years, is back in the spotlight with the launch of its largest ship ever, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Epic. Taking the ‘floating resort’ concept to new levels, the ship puts the focus on onboard activities rather than port calls, with a dazzling entertainment line-up and an array of dining opportunities. With behemoths like Epic and Royal Caribbean’s 5,600-passenger Oasis of the Seas, it’s easy to forget you’re on a ship. But that seems to be what a sizable segment of cruisers want. Rather than an opportunity to explore new destinations, many cruisers appear more interested in eating, drinking, tanning by the pool and checking out high-profile entertainment at night. And when it comes to port calls, some of the most popular are the private islands owned by Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Lines, Holland America and NCL. These small Caribbean islands are uninhabited until a few thousands cruisers arrive, unmolested by the hawkers and vendors typical of cruise ports. The cruise lines continue to add private island amenities, from private cabanas to water play areas, exhilarating rides to expanded beaches.

Up In The Air: Flying Is Back
After years of almost nothing but bad news coming from the international aviation industry, there’s finally something upbeat to report. In the month of May, both international passenger and freight traffic moved ahead of pre-recession levels. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported an 11.7% increase in passenger traffic and a 34.3% jump in freight demand compared to May 2009.

With airlines closely watching capacity growth, they are filling close to 80% of available seats, a near record level. Now if they could only get corporations to once again start paying 10 times the price of an economy seat for the big seats up front, everything would

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: bestwestern.com, visitjamaica.com, disneycruise.com, Sieto

The World's Most Incredible Hotel Pool

By Takeoffeh.com - Monday, July 12, 2010 at 9:49 AM - 0 Comments

There’s no doubt there are rooms with pretty spectacular views at the brand-new Marina Bay Sands hotel, but it’s hard to imagine topping the vista from the rooftop infinity pool, 55 storeys above Singapore.

As the UK’s Daily Mail reports, swimming to the edge isn’t quite as dangerous as it looks. While the water in the infinity pool appears to end in a sheer drop, it actually spills into a catchment area where it is pumped back into the main pool. At three times the length of an Olympic-sized pool and 650 feet above street level, it is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height.

The incredible pool is a highlight of the boat-shaped ’SkyPark’ perched atop the three towers that make up the world’s most expensive hotel, the $6.4-billion Marina Bay Sands development designed by Canadian architect Moshe Safdie.  The hotel, which features 2,560 rooms starting at over $500 a night, was officially opened recently with a concert by Diana Ross.

The title of world’s most expensive hotel was previously held by the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, estimated to have cost $3.2-billion when it opened in 2004. But with its indoor canal, opulent art, casino, outdoor plaza, convention centre, theatre, crystal pavilion and museum shaped like a lotus flower, the Marina Bay Sands has taken its crown.

Inside the resort, shoppers can ride along an indoor canal in Sampan boats styled on traditional Chinese vessels from the 17th century. The owners commissioned five well-known artists to create works of art designed to ’integrate’ with the buildings. Among these is a 40-metre-long sculpture made from 16,100 steel rods. The whole thing weighs 14.8 tons and it took 60 people to assemble it in the hotel. Another dramatic artwork is titled Rising Forest and consists of 83 three-metre-high pots with trees in them. The pots were so big the artist had to build a customised kiln the size of a small building to make them in.

Marina Bay Sands is another indication of economic recovery. It was due to open in 2009, but was delayed by funding problems due to the global financial crisis.

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: Reuters, EPA

All The Things We Leave Behind – In Hotel Rooms

By macleans.ca - Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 11:14 AM - 0 Comments

A recent story about a hotel housekeeper in Miami who found $6,000 in cash left behind in a guestroom got a former hotel manager thinking about items guests are likely to forget and leave behind.

Daniel Edward Craig decided to pay a visit to a hotel’s housekeeping department to see what was kicking around in the Lost and Found. He found boxes and boxes of guest belongings, most of which looked like junk left behind on purpose, but he knew from experience that hotel staff do a lot of dumpster diving looking for things guests have left,  so hotels are careful about  what  may suddenly be missed and deemed as valuable.

While perusing the collection, a staff member added a very large bra to the mix, saying that happens all the time. Asked what other things guests leave behind, staff listed off everything from the trivial – toiletries, toothbrushes, CDs, adapters – to the treasured – jewellery, laptops, iPods, passports, USB sticks, clothing and prescriptions. One guest left behind an $800 bottle of Crystal champagne. It might have made for a fun staff party had he not picked it up – two years later.

Sex toys are another popular leave-behind, probably because they’re usually hidden out of sight, in a drawer or under the bed. Apparently guests never call back looking for those.

If items left behind in hotel rooms are an indication of what travellers are up to on the road, Craig says partners and spouses have good reason to be nervous. In the Lost and Found log book he found records of a whip, pornographic materials, a nurse’s uniform, a wig, a stethoscope and narcotics. Then again, he also found business books, language tapes and a Bible.

What should you do if you leave something behind in a hotel? Call the hotel immediately and ask about it. If they can’t find it, be patient and persistent; sometimes items are temporarily misplaced, but eventually they should show up. The hotel will arrange to mail it back to you.

Since most of us are inclined to leave something behind that we’d appreciate having returned, the nice thing to do is always leave a tip for the housekeeper. By the way: Craig reports that people were so moved by the honesty and difficult personal circumstances of the Miami housekeeper who found the $6,000 and turned it in, that she later received donations exceeding the amount she found.

Why It's Great To Be A Canadian Traveller

By Takeoffeh.com - Monday, July 5, 2010 at 3:02 PM - 0 Comments

Yes, Canadians are known as polite travellers, and that’s no bad thing, making us welcome in many places around the world. But a warm welcome isn’t the only perk of being a Canadian traveller, according to online travel seller Cheapflights.ca. Here are some more reasons why it’s great to be a Canadian on the go, on Canada Day or any other day:

That Politeness Thing: Polite may not be exciting, but generations of well-mannered Canuck travellers have built up a pool of goodwill in many destinations. No wonder those southerners stitch Canadian flags on their backpacks.

We Know Good Beer: Canada measures alcohol percentage by volume, not by weight, so when we get to Europe or the U.S. we can sample all their fine brews without ending up on the floor.  Watch out for the Aussies though… their legs are hollow.

The Loonie Is Flying: Our rising dollar has made our travels more affordable than last year. For $100, Canadians this year get $97 US, £64 or €78. Last July 1st, it was $86 US, £52 or €61. That’s a 12% gain on the US dollar, 23% on the British pound and 27% on the Euro. Woohoo, let’s get outta here!

Visa Free Travel with Canadian Passport: With Canadian passport in hand – and 70% of us have one — we can travel without visas to over 150 countries.

So Many Places To Go: Canada is well served by domestic and international airlines and new air services are being added all the time, recognizing the value of the Canadian market.

Weather Or Not: When you come from a place where it’s minus 30 in the winter and plus 30 in the summer, extreme weather isn’t that big an issue.

This week's travel news

By Bruce Parkinson, Takeoffeh.com - Monday, July 5, 2010 at 2:42 PM - 0 Comments

Sky-High Airfares: It’s The Canadian Way
Surprise, surprise: Canadians pay more to fly in Canada – a lot more — than Americans or Europeans. In a report titled ‘Canada’s Not-So-Friendly Skies,’ The Frontier Centre for Public Policy compared five Canadian flights, using the cheapest airfares available, against flights of similar distance in the U.S. and Europe. The results, while not unexpected, were still startling. For a total distance of about 3,300 domestic miles, fares in Europe tallied about $525, compared to $935 in the U.S. and close to $1,500 in Canada. Ouch. The Western Canadian think-tank that did the math credits Europe’s liberalized air policies and the resulting competition for the cheaper fares. It recommends a true “open-skies” policy, allowing foreign carriers to fly within the country. Currently, international carriers can fly in or out of Canada, but only Canadian airlines can service domestic routes. But airline consultant Rick Erickson says the situation is a little more complex than the study suggests. “I don’t see (foreign airlines) showing up and all of a sudden revolutionizing the Canadian airfare game,” he told the Calgary Herald. “They are going to find the costs here are higher, and that Air Canada and WestJet are very competitive competition.” Europe also boasts many lower-cost airports, often on former military bases. “It’s a completely different animal. I don’t see Canada being overly attractive to the international players,” Erickson said. In fact, following a year of discounted fares from WestJet and Air Canada, the Globe and Mail reports that increased demand and rising consumer confidence are leading to even higher domestic airfares.

Please Uncle Sam, May We Enter Your Airspace?
We knew it was coming, but the way it’s being done is upsetting opposition politicians – not to mention raising a few ethical questions. As Canwest News Service reported this week, the federal government has quietly presented a bill in the House of Commons that would give U.S. officials final say over who can board aircraft in Canada if they are to fly through United States airspace – even though they are not landing in the U.S.  Bill C-42 allows airlines to pass on passenger information to “a foreign state” for flights over that country. The legislation is needed so that Canadian airlines comply with U.S. Homeland Security’s Secure Flight program, which requires airlines to submit personal information about passengers 72 hours before a flight’s departure. If the bill passes, passengers leaving Canada on one of the many flights that travel over U.S. airspace will have their name, birth date and gender subject to screening by U.S. officials. If you have the same name as someone on a no-fly list, you may be questioned, delayed or even barred from the flight. If your name doesn’t show up, you get your boarding pass. Liberal transport critic Joe Volpe said Bill C-42 was introduced with no warning and no discussion with the opposition. Together, the opposition parties could vote down the legislation – a situation that could cause turmoil for air travel. “Canadian sovereignty has gone right out the window,” Liberal transport critic Joe Volpe told the Montreal Gazette in a recent interview. “You are going to be subject to American law.” NDP transport critic Dennis Bevington told Canwest that “We’re doing this without understanding what the threat assessment is. There’s no way that this is going to get an easy ride.”

Monopoly Is Over, But Porter’s Still The Boss Hog
The monopoly is over but it looks like Porter Airlines still owns Boardwalk. Since its launch in October, 2006, Porter has enjoyed exclusive rights to Toronto’s island airport. But that’s over. Airport overseer the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) has awarded landing slots to Air Canada and Continental. Of 202 available daily slots, Air Canada will get 30, Continental 16. Porter will get 44 new slots, giving it 156 in all – nearly 80% of the total. Each slot represents a one-way flight. Industry insiders told the Globe and Mail that the decision clears the way for Air Canada’s Jazz subsidiary to operate seven round-trips daily between Toronto and Montreal, and another eight round-trips between Toronto and Ottawa, or a total of 30 slots a day. Continental will likely only use half of its slot allocation for flights to Newark. It’s been four years since a terminal company controlled by Porter principal Robert Deluce voted Jazz off the island. Jazz had neglected its operations there – it was down to just five return flights a day when it got the boot — but it seemed to become much fonder of the island airport as it watched Porter build a popular, if not yet profitable service there. Jazz was seeking 74 slots in the new allocation and continues a court battle against Porter and the TPA for more access.

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: ranplett, MMADIA, flyporter.com

This Week's Travel News

By Bruce Parkinson, Takeoffeh.com - Monday, June 28, 2010 at 2:53 PM - 0 Comments

Stop The Presses: There’s Good News For Canada’s Airlines
In an industry where the sky always seems to be falling, Canada’s airline sector is enjoying a period relatively free of turbulence.
As Reuters reported this week, shares in Air Canada and WestJet are both up by more than 20 per cent and analysts see more big gains on the horizon. It’s an impressive turnaround from last spring when Air Canada was on the brink of a second trip into bankruptcy and perennially-profitable WestJet was showing double-digit earnings declines. “Things are a lot better than a year ago. Demand has come back quite a bit in Canada and globally,” said Canaccord Genuity analyst David Tyerman. Even the highly lucrative first-and business-class travel is slowly making a comeback, which is critical for Air Canada, which makes most of its money from passengers in the front of the plane. At the same time, many consumers are still spending cautiously, which is good news for WestJet and its low-cost model. When analyst predictions are averaged, the expectation is that AC stock will reach $3.96 in the next 12 months, more than double the $1.92 its B shares closed at last week. The market expectations for WestJet are not as dramatic, largely because its stock was less battered during the recession as it was one of the few North American airlines to stay profitable throughout. On average, analysts expect WestJet’s stock to reach $16.59 in a year’s time, 29 per cent above its $12.85 close at the end of last week.

Full Steam Ahead Or Cruising For A Bruising?
The cruise industry is placing a very big bet that the global economy will recover. How big? Think billions, lots of billions. The shiny new Norwegian Epic is readying for its inaugural sailing this week. At a cost of $1.2-billion and a passenger capacity of 4,200, Epic is the most eagerly anticipated ship launch of the year, but certainly not the only one. In fact, more than a dozen large cruise ships will take to the water this year, after a similar number in 2009. Besides Epic, major launches this year include P&O’s Azura, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, Celebrity’s Eclipse and Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. In total, this year’s new ships will carry well over 25,000 passengers, who have to be replaced about once a week on average. Will the industry fill all these new berths? The cruise industry’s growth has been phenomenal over the past 20 years, average 7.4% growth each year. And as the market has matured in North America, cruise lines have been aggressive in seeking new markets, especially in the UK and Europe. But still, close to 80% of cruisers are from North America and not everyone is convinced that the North American economy – especially the U.S. portion – is heading back to health. As the Christian Science Monitor recently put it: “Ships are getting bigger and Americans are getting poorer.” The publication pointed to a forecast of 1.6-million personal bankruptcies in the U.S. this year, coupled with an unemployment rate near 10%. Those figures certainly encourage pause for thought, but so far the cruise business seems to have weathered the storm remarkably well – Carnival Cruise Corp. for one just posted a $250-million profit for the second quarter. And the industry continues to generate massive amounts of breathless press. Epic is all over the news this week and on Allure of the Seas, sister to world’s largest cruise ship Oasis of the Seas, made headlines recently when it announced that popular cartoon characters from DreamWorks will form a major part of onboard family entertainment is readying for its inaugural sailing this week Royal Caribbean obviously hopes the allure of cute cartoon Shrek and Donkey will keep the cruisers coming.

Big In Dubai: That’s The Way They Roll
In Dubai, it seems that small is just not an option. Take the Dubai World Central Al-Maktoum International airport: still under construction, the plan is to build the largest airport in the world with five runways, four terminal buildings and an annual capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo. The airport will be ten times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, which ranked as the 15^th busiest in the world in 2009, processing over 40 million passengers. Al-Maktoum saw its first test cargo flight land successfully this week, heralding the beginning of partial operations within a week or so. The airport is part of a $33-billion dollar Dubai World Central DWC project that will take the Emirate’s position as a global transport hub to a new level. The master plan includes six inter-related developments — the world’s largest airport, Dubai Logistics City, DWC Aviation City, DWC Residential City, DWC Commercial City and DWC Golf City. The names aren’t exactly compelling, but the scale of the projects is vast. As a point of comparison, the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, served close to 90 million passengers in 2009, while Canada’s largest airport, Toronto’s Pearson International, handled just over 30 million passengers in 2009.

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: epic.ncl.com, en.wikipedia.org

Virgin's Second Coming: Will This One Last?

By Takeoffeh.com - Monday, June 28, 2010 at 2:49 PM - 0 Comments

U.S. low-cost carrier Virgin America launched its first international route this week from LA to Toronto, but it’s not the first Virgin to land in Canada.

Sister airline Virgin Atlantic launched service to London from Toronto in June 2001. At the inaugural event, a confident Virgin founder Richard Branson told TakeOffeh’s Nina Slawek: “Toronto is not an easy market but we really do expect in 50 years to still be around.”

A couple of months later the September 11 attacks sent the aviation industry into a spiral. A few months after that, Virgin Atlantic pulled out. While the terrorist attacks certainly contributed to Virgin Atlantic’s departure, the Toronto-London route is fiercely competitive, led by Air Canada and British Airways, with substantial seasonal charter traffic to boot.

On the Los Angeles and San Francisco routes, Virgin America is launching with daily service to Toronto. Air Canada will be the main competition, and as expected, new competition has brought its fangs out. AC has boosted its seat capacity in the Toronto-California market by more than 50% in advance of Virgin America’s arrival and is undercutting Virgin America’s fares with rates as low as $187 one-way, before taxes, between Toronto and San Francisco for weekdays in mid-July.

“Virgin America is a low-cost carrier unlike Virgin Atlantic so I am sure they will have a different strategy,” says airline industry expert Chris Rivers. “It will be tough against AC though, because they will match their prices and they have the formidable Aeroplan.”

As the Globe and Mail reports, Virgin America chairman Donald Carty (who is also chairman of Toronto-based Porter Airlines) says price isn’t the only factor in route success. “Many start-ups have come to the market with the promise to the customer of low prices. That’s great, but the customer wants and expects more. We will be delivering a travel experience, too,” he said.

The Virgin America ‘experience’ earned the carrier a ‘Best Domestic Airline’ rating from Travel + Leisure magazine in both 2008 and 2009. Features include mood lighting, inflight Wi-Fi, a self-serve mini bar and snack trolley and a dynamic entertainment system known as ‘Red.’

It’s a sexy product for sure, but Carty knows Virgin America is in for a fight. “Air Canada isn’t a naive carrier. They will compete and won’t give up turf easily. If we see a strong economic recovery, there is probably room for success on routes for both entities.”

It should also be noted that Air Canada was voted “Best Airline in North America” by readers of Global Travel magazine in its annual survey of business travellers.

Virgin America is hoping for the best, and already looking at Vancouver as a second Canadian destination. Carty sees the opportunity to tap into a large community of Canadians working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, and the high-tech biz in San Francisco.

Once the G8 crowds clear out of town, Branson will be back for an official inauguration on June 29^th. In true Virgin style it will be a party, with red-hot Canadian hip hop artist Drake among the attendees.

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: en.wikipedia.org

This week's travel news

By Bruce Parkinson, Takeoffeh.com - Friday, June 18, 2010 at 1:01 PM - 2 Comments

The Airline Pricing Obstacle Course
Airline pricing continues to make headlines for befuddling passengers. In the U.S., new ‘unbundled’ fees seem to appear every day. The latest is American Airlines charging from $9 to $19 for the privilege of boarding early – just after the premium passengers. Why would people pay for that dubious benefit? Mostly because high fees for checked luggage have spurred many passengers to bring only carry-on, creating a free-for-all battle for overhead bin space. In the UK and Europe, no-frills airlines continue to offer what look like jaw-dropping low fares, which can more than double when ‘optional’ fees are added. Carriers like Ryanair, easyJet and Flybe charge up to £30 to put a standard 20kg bag in the hold. Passengers also face fees for paying by credit card, printing boarding passes and selecting seats. Next month Ryanair will hike luggage costs by £10 if passengers don’t check in online. In today’s crazy airline landscape British tabloid News of the World says a ticket on British Airways can end up costing less than one on a no-frills carrier, because it doesn’t charge booking fees or to check in luggage. Here in Canada we can count ourselves lucky on some counts. Neither Air Canada nor WestJet have taken unbundling to the levels of airlines south of the border, never mind Europe. But even here, the final price of a flight can double from the advertised amount due to extra fees, fuel surcharges and government taxes. As reported this week, legislation was passed by Parliament three years ago that would force airlines to advertise the full cost of a ticket. But a last-minute amendment won by the airline lobby delayed the advertising provision until the government and industry held consultations. As another legislative session comes to a close, it appears that Transport Minister John Baird has for a second time reneged on a commitment to move the process forward. It looks like we’ll continue to need calculators to figure out the price of a flight for some time to come.

Boeing & Airbus Hear Footsteps As Competition Looms
While their own rivalry has certainly been fierce, Boeing and Airbus have pretty much enjoyed a duopoly in the large passenger aircraft market for many years. But that’s going to change as some of the fast-emerging BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – bring their own flying machines to market. Canada is striving for a piece of the pie too, with Bombardier set to take on the big guys in the 100-149 seat market with its CSeries, set to enter service in 2013. Other competitors include China’s Comac, Brazil’s Embraer and Russian companies Sukhoi and United Aircraft Company. Almost all of the new competition will be in the narrow-body market, because of the prohibitive cost of entry for wide-body construction. The price of developing new jets like Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner or Airbus’s new A350 is estimated at more than $12 billion, making it unlikely that challengers will emerge until 2030 at the earliest. In the short-haul market, leaders Bombardier and Embraer will also see some new competition from Japan’s Mitsubishi. By 2014 the company hopes to be airborne with the first passenger aircraft to be built by a Japanese company since the mid-70s. It’s a beauty, too, with sleek lines, a dipped nose, a more spacious cabin than its competitors and perhaps most importantly, a highly fuel-efficient engine.

Water & Lights Show Is Next Step In Making Disneyland Grand
Five years in the making, a new evening water and lights show at Disney’s California Adventure in Disneyland has kicked off a $1.4 billion expansion. The 25-minute ‘World of Color’ show takes place in the Paradise Bay lagoon and features 1,200 fountains and water screens on which images of iconic Disney characters are projected. Lasers, fire, lights and music are other components of a show described by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs as “exhilarating”. The growth continues with a Little Mermaid attraction opening next year and a 12-acre Cars Land that will be unveiled in 2012. The expansion marks the continuation of plans to transform the original Disneyland theme park into a multi-day resort destination. The new attractions aim to piggyback on the popularity of Disney and Disney/Pixar characters, with the goal, Disney says, of “adding product that tells a story.”

Buying A New Knee In Bangkok
Medical tourism is fast becoming a worldwide, multi-billion dollar industry. In the U.S. alone it’s currently a $20-billion market but experts predict that to multiply to $100-billion by 2012. While Americans travel to overseas hospitals in order to pay as little as 10% of what they would pay at home, Canadians are going for different reasons – mostly to avoid long wait-times for things like hip or knee replacements or cardiac surgery. In the past, the bulk of medical travel has been for cosmetic procedures, but that is quickly changing as facilities improve around the world. As reported in trade rag OpenJaw.com, travel agency marketing organization Travelsavers has been researching the market for some time and has now made the leap with the formation of Well-Being Travel. Travelsavers member agencies in Canada and the U.S. won’t sell the medical services– they’ve teamed up with a company called Companion Global Healthcare for that – but they will arrange air and hotel stays based around state-of-the-art hospitals in places like India, Thailand and Turkey. Executive vice president of Well-Being Travel Anne Marie Moebes is definitely a convert. She required dental work priced at $18,000 in the U.S. and got it for $4,000 including airfare in Central America. She says “you could eat off the floor” in its partner hospitals which included Bumrungrad International in Bangkok and Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul.

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: embraer.com, disneyland.disney.go.com, wikimedia.org

Zoo & Aquarium Controversy

By Takeoffeh.com - Friday, June 18, 2010 at 10:34 AM - 3 Comments

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world’s largest animal rights organization, does not believe animals should be used for entertainment or kept in zoos, theme parks or aquariums. Responding to a recent piece on TakeOffeh.com, PETA’s Captive Exotic Animal Specialist, Lisa Wathne, had this to say:

Lisa Wathne: We at PETA were disappointed to hear that you view the decline of ticket sales at SeaWorld following the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was attacked by one of the theme park’s captive orcas, as “unfortunate” (“The Upside of Bad Situations,” 10 May). After being pulled into a tank by an orca, Brancheau’s scalp was torn from her head, her arm was ripped from her body, and her spine, ribs, and facial bones were broken. Families and children watched as an orca slammed a woman, who had just been smiling at them, to death. It is hardly good news that by reducing the price of admission, SeaWorld is, in essence, trying to bribe people into ignoring their better judgment and supporting what is basically an attractively decorated prison for marine mammals.

We all know how much people of all ages love the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it, and how much joy children get out of interacting with animals. We asked Lisa Wathne for some alternatives.

TakeOffeh: How can marine life be enjoyed without captive animals being involved?

Lisa Wathne: There are many ways to learn about, appreciate, and enjoy sea life without supporting marine theme parks and aquariums. People can explore the wonderful world of marine animals through books, magazines, videos, sophisticated computer programs, and displays such as “Conny,” the life-size sperm whale replica at The Children’s Museum in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Several displays, including Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Adventure Tour, offer an interactive experience that uses realistic animatronic animals to convey the excitement and adventure of nature. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Adventure Tour travels across the U.S. for appearances at fairs, festivals, and other venues.

Last year, IMAX theaters opened Under the Sea 3D, a film that gives viewers face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious creatures of the sea. It offers a uniquely inspirational and entertaining way to explore the beauty and natural wonder of the oceans and discover how they are affected by global climate change. In IMAX theatres, the images “leap” off the screen and appear to float around the room, virtually putting the audience in the movie.

<!––>Virtual Dolphin Therapy at La Quinta Healing Arts in California recreates an underwater sanctuary with a multimedia mix of dolphin vocalizations, a screen showing frolicking dolphins, and a vibrating sound-wave table.

TakeOffeh: For some people books, films and animatronic machines will never replace the real thing. How about some ideas that include viewing real, live marine life?

Lisa Wathne: John Pennekamp National Park in the Florida Keys is fabulous. Established in 1963, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was the first undersea park created in the U.S. The park and the adjacent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary encompass 178 nautical square miles of coral reefs, sea-grass beds, and mangrove swamps. These areas were established to protect and preserve the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. You can swim there, but you can also take advantage of reasonably priced snorkelling tours that allow you to go right in with the animals—in their home and on their terms.

Key West’s new Eco-Discovery Center offers interactive displays and walk-through labs, but the animals there swim freely. And it’s free!

North America’s only natural freshwater aquarium is located in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Opened in 1990, the Fluvarium provides nine panoramic glimpses into a real diverted brook in which brown trout swim freely in and out of the viewing areas, which include deep and shallow ponds and a fast-flowing “riffle” where the fish spawn in the fall.

Photo Credits: imax.com, virtualdolphintherapy.com, pennekamppark.com

Porter Plans To Operate Full Flight Sched During G20

By Takeoffeh.com - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 11:26 AM - 2 Comments

Porter Airlines is confirming that it will operate a full flight schedule during the G20 Summit meetings scheduled for June 26th and 27th, in Toronto.  At the same time, it is possible that some delays may be experienced due to special security measures being implemented downtown.

Peak summit related activities will occur between Friday, June 25th and Sunday, June 27th as well as the time leading up to the summit from Monday June 21st to Thursday June 24th, may affect aspects of travel for passengers arriving to or departing from Toronto.

Road closures will prevent Porter’s shuttle bus from operating on certain days. Porter has decidedto suspend their complimentary shuttle service as part of security and safety plans starting Monday, June 21st, through Sunday, June 27th. Regular shuttle service resumes Monday, June 28.

Public transit may be the best option. Union Station and public transit are to continue operating. A streetcar stop is located one short block from the airport at Bathurst St. and Queen’s Quay.

On the ground, passengers should allow more time than usual for getting to and departing from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.  Some delays and detours are to be expected when navigating the city. Movement will be highly restricted within designated downtown areas that are typically accessible, particularly beginning Friday, June 25th.

The airport ferry service will operate on its normal schedule.

“Our main objective is to give people as much information as possible about Porter’s plan for operating during the G20, so that they can make informed travel decisions,” said Robert Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines.  “Everyone recognizes this is an extraordinary event and new information may cause some plans to be adjusted.  We’ll do our best to make sure our passengers have the best information as soon as possible.

Passengers can keep track of their flight status at www.flyporter.com. And, if travel plans are altered due to the summit, a credit can be issued or itinerary changes made for no cost. This can be arranged by contacting the Call Centre, (888) 619-8622, which is open Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, and Saturday to Sunday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

Passengers are also encouraged to keep up to date through media reports and websites, such as G20 Summit – http://g20.gc.ca/home/.

This week's travel news

By Bruce Parkinson, Takeoffeh.com - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 2:11 PM - 4 Comments

Why Robert Milton Made $14.7 Million In 2009
Robert Milton’s legacy at Air Canada may be hotly debated, but there’s no question Milton’s long association with the airline has left a lasting legacy in his bank account. While long since departed to England, Milton is still president and CEO of ACE Aviation, AC’s parent company and 35% shareholder in the airline. As Canadian Press reported this week, thanks to a ‘rationalized’ compensation structure, Milton received close to $15-million from ACE in 2009 – not bad compensation for a part-time job. In reality, Milton’s big payday has more to do with the ‘value-enhancing transactions’ that have enriched shareholders in the past five years, namely spinning off Aeroplan and Jazz Air. In actual compensation for 2009 Milton received a base salary of just over $500,000 and consulting fees of $157,500. Milton also received severance compensation of $7.62 million and a “last payment” of $5 million in ‘incentive awards.’ This year’s $14.7-million in compensation should be the last of the big windfalls for Milton – he made $39-million in 2006 and 2007, again mostly in cash bonuses for engineering the asset sales that warmed the hearts of investors and enraged unions. Going forward, Milton’s paycheque will be held to $270,000 per year – unless he works more than 40 days, at which point he’ll get a per diem of $8,000 per day.

Versailles No More: Pearson Named World’s Most Improved Airport
Once derided as the most expensive place in the world for airlines to land, Toronto’s Pearson International has been honoured by the International Air Transport Association as the world’s ‘most improved’ airport. Over the past three years, Pearson has decreased various charges by 13 to 15 percent. The fee cuts come in the wake of an IATA campaign to get the Greater Toronto Airport Association to lower costs. As IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani puts it: “They built a monument with no notion of how to fund it. We called it Versailles. We had to get rid of a [federal] minister and the [GTAA] CEO. Then we started to work closely together.” As Doug McArthur reported at TakeOffeh.com this week, whether or not passengers are benefitting from lower costs is an open question. Asked if the savings are being passed on to passengers, Bisignani replied cryptically that “the money doesn’t stay in the airlines’ pocket.” Asked the same question, Marilynne Day-Linton, chair of the GTAA board, said she didn’t know. Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu came closest to giving a clear answer, saying cost reductions are reflected in Air Canada’s fares, which are lower “on an absolute basis” than they were a decade ago. IATA says the big benefit of the reduced costs is that fewer airlines will pull out of Toronto and more new airlines will start flying there.

More Profit, More Planes for Emirates
A day after announcing that it is on track to earn more than $1 billion in profits this year, Dubai based airline Emirates placed an $11.5 billion order for 32 Airbus A380s – the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Emirates now has 90 of the big birds on order, over 40% of the entire A380 order book for Airbus. A380s aren’t the only planes in Emirates’ future - in total the airline has contracted for 150 wide-body aircraft worth more than $40 billion, including 70 A350s and 18 Boeing 777-300s. It’s all part of of Emirates’ ambitious strategy to act as a global hub, joining previously unconnected city-pairs around the world through just one stop in Dubai. Emirates is currently flying 10 A380s, with Toronto one of the stops on its route map. The airline was founded just 25 years ago and now ranks among the top 10 in the world in terms of revenue and international passengers. Profitability and a reputation for first rate onboard service has earned Emirates 8^th place in this year’s Skytrax ranking of the world’s best airlines. To put its $1 billion profit projection in perspective, the world’s airlines are expected to earn a total of $2.8 billion this year.

By: Bruce Parkinson
Bruce Parkinson is a travel industry journalist and regular contributor to Takeoffeh.com as well as sister company, OpenJaw.com

Photo Credits: aceaviation.com, gtaa.com, emirates.com

Luggage Logic and the Giant Floating Chandelier

By Takeoffeh.com - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 1:57 PM - 1 Comment

With the summer travel season almost upon us, airports will be filled with frazzled folks flitting far, far away. There’s nothing like a lost bag to put a cramp in your visit to the in-laws, so here are a few tips to help you avoid luggage letdown.

Do You Need It?
This is a two-part question. Part One: Most people pack way too much. Try to remember what you took last time and didn’t use, and eliminate it this time. Part Two: If you can’t afford to lose it, don’t bring it. Leave Grandma’s pearls at home.

Don’t Check It:
Let’s be honest. All those people who tell you they pack 10 days worth of stuff in a carry-on are rumpled, dirty and far too ascetic for our taste. They also clearly don’t have kids. That being said: take anything valuable as carry-on and a throw in a change of clothes too, along with medications, electronics and travel documents. With checked luggage couples and families should definitely cross-pack, so if a bag goes missing, they’ve all got something to wear.

Bag It & Tag It:
You want your luggage to be distinctive, so make sure it is well identified with ID tags and a sticker or ribbon so you can pick it out on the carousel. Don’t rely on old baggage tags as ID, or your bag could end up back at your previous destination.

Eyes on the Prize:
Don’t dawdle while heading to the baggage claim. Sometimes bags come remarkably quickly, and you don’t want someone else walking off with your stuff. Many people also prefer to keep their bags in sight as much as possible when checking in to a hotel or boarding a cruise ship. It’s often easier and more reassuring to carry your own luggage or accompany it to your room or cabin.

Spotlight on Norwegian Epic
What’s a new cruise ship without a superlative or two? Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic will set sail this month, and final fittings included installing the largest LED chandelier at sea. The massive piece is the focal point of the ship’s atrium and the Epic Casino — also the largest at sea.  But they don’t make chandeliers like they used to – this one features 10,000 LED diodes allowing it to project all colours of the spectrum through 40,000 glass crystals. The monster light is the product of Vienna’s Kalmar, a leading glass crystal maker and specialist in chandeliers that make statements in hotels and palaces around the world. The 21-foot tall, 11-foot diameter chandelier weighs two metric tonnes and took a team of people three weeks to install.

Photo Credits: jocic, epic.ncl.com

Summer Getaways: Ontario

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 13 Comments

Niagara Falls
Though it’s still the “Honeymoon Capital of the World,” and tacky tours and all-you-can-eat buffets are alive and well, a new attitude is changing this tourist mecca. Shops that once sold kitsch in and around the historic Queen Street Arts and Entertainment District are sharing space with elegant galleries, cafés, bistros and a renovated Seneca Theatre. The area is a recreational hub. Cyclists and joggers enjoy more than 50 km of paved pathways on the Niagara River Recreational Trail. And with the recent completion of several new championship courses, Niagara has joined the ranks of one of Canada’s premier golf destinations.

Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island
Tour the region’s acclaimed wineries and sample prize-winning vintages. Wander the sprawling greenhouses of Colisanti’s Tropical Gardens in Ruthven, home to flowering cacti and tropical plants, before making your way to Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island, where you can dig your toes into the sandy beaches or explore the bird-filled marshes and Carolinian forests.

Toronto
There’s plenty in T.O. for those passing through—and for locals who don’t have friends with cottages. Kicking things off is the North by Northeast Music and Film Festival (June 16-20), a showcase of 650 bands and 40 music-related films. Pride Week (June 25-July 4) attracts more than a million people and features one of the more eclectic parades you’ll ever see. The Toronto Fringe Festival (June 30-July 11) is the city’s premier grassroots theatre event. Just for Laughs (July 6-11) will leave you in stiches, while the Toronto Arts Exhibition (July 9-11), featuring 500 artists, will make you think. There’s Caribana (July 13-Aug.1), a cultural explosion of everything Caribbean. And plenty for sports lovers: the stars and cars of the IndyCar Series at the Honda Indy Toronto (July 16-18) and the world’s best male tennis players at the Rogers Cup (Aug. 7-15) at York University. Cap things off at the Canadian National Exhibition (Aug. 20-Sept. 6).

Quinte Country and Prince Edward County
Sandbanks Provincial Park, near Picton, is home to golden beaches and the world’s largest system of freshwater sand dunes. Sample culinary creations and tasty local wines on Prince Edward County’s Taste Trail. And the scenic Loyalist Parkway, from Kingston to Trenton, has 40 archaeological sites, plus 125 notable heritage buildings to explore.

To see what Russell Peters picks as his favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in Ontario, see www.ontariotravel.net

RELATED ARTICLES
Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure

No passport required, great travel destinations in Canada

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 22 Comments

Our annual guide to summer travel highlights across the country.

	Quebec When the cirque comes to town		Manitoba Birdies, belugas and broadway
	Ontario Sandy beaches, big city sights		Alberta Where to find your inner cowboy
	Saskatchewan Look, Up in the sky		British Columbia Plenty of sights and sounds
	Newfoundland and Labrador Enjoy the rocky roads		Nova Scotia Taste, the adventure
	New Brunswick Jazz riffs and tidal raves		Prince Edward Island Swings, sails and celebs
	The North An amazing race
Where famous Canucks go to play - Travel-savvy celebs pick their favourite holiday posts

Where famous Canucks go to play

By macleans.ca - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 6 Comments

Ontario

Russell Peters
Comedian
“The Kee to Bala is always really cool. It’s in Bala, Ont. They always have these really impressive acts up there. It’s in the middle of nowhere, which makes it even more impressive. James Brown even played there. I played it in 2003. I remember seeing that George Clinton was coming up there the week after me. I’m like, what the hell? First of all, it’s George Clinton. Second of all, what the hell do they know about soul and Funkadelic in northern Ontario? The cottage crowd generally likes your basic Steely Dan, your Doobie Brothers and your yacht rock, as they like to call it.” (This year’s summer lineup includes the Sam Roberts Band, Gord Downie and Hedley.)

More things to do in Ontario

Summer Getaways: Saskatchewan

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 0 Comments

Windscape Kite Festival (Jake Wright/CP)

Trails of 1885
In 1885, the Metis and Cree rose up against the Dominion government over land and treaty rights. It was the last battle fought on Canadian soil, and to commemorate its 125th anniversary, festivals, celebrations and educational programs will take place at many of the pivotal battle sites in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. The signature event is the Back to Batoche Festival in central Saskatchewan (July 18-25), an annual celebration of the culture, traditions and heritage of the Metis Nation in the exact area where the 1885 uprising culminated in the Battle of Batoche. Visitors enjoy traditional fiddling, Red River jig music, square dancing, bannock making, as well as rodeo, chuckwagon and chariot races.

Windscape Kite Festival (June 19-20)
For one weekend every year, a prairie field in Swift Current becomes a colourful scene ripped out of a children’s storybook, where all kinds of kites—some the size of houses—take to the skies. The event attracts about 40 national and international superstars from the kite world. Admission is free, and anyone is welcome to fly their kites, take in a kite-building workshop, or purchase their very own high-flyer from one of the many vendors. Free kite-flying lessons are also available.

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 100th anniversary
Numerous activities are scheduled this summer to celebrate the green and white. A gallery dedicated to Rider fans and the team will be on display at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Meanwhile, an exhibition entitled “Green is the Colour: the Art of Rider Pride” will appear at both the Dunlop and Mackenzie Art galleries in Regina, where fans will also have the chance to meet former players. At every home game there will be pre-game parties and events to honour the team, including a reunion of former cheerleaders in October when the Toronto Argonauts come to town.

Summer solstice festival d’été (June 18-20)
This three-day event in Gravelbourg, a bilingual community about 200 km west of Regina that is known for being a “touch of Europe on the Prairies,” celebrates the sun as it reaches the highest point in the sky. Highlights include music, theatre, literature and dance performances, along with an art exhibition and entertainment for children.

To see what Hayley Wickenheiser picks as her favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in Saskatchewan, see www.sasktourism.com

RELATED ARTICLES
Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure

Summer Getaways: New Brunswick

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 2 Comments

Take a chairlift up Sugarloaf Mountain, and cycle down past scenic vistas (Aaron McKenzie Fraser)

The Fundy Trail Parkway
Drive the paved parkway that hugs the coastal cliffs, lace up your hiking boots, or hop on your mountain bike and explore the trails—it’s the ultimate Bay of Fundy eco-adventure. The trails, carved out of the Fundy escarpment in one of the last remaining coastal wilderness areas between Florida and Labrador, connect to paths and stairways that lead to pristine beaches and tumbling waterfalls. Precambrian rocks and 250-m cliffs tower at the water’s edge.

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival (Sept. 14-19)
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Fredericton’s largest annual event, more than 350 musicians will perform on 23 stages in four downtown city blocks. Headliners include Maria Muldaur, Kurt Elling, Jane Bunnett’s African-Cuban Blues Project, Roomful of Blues, Champion & His G-Strings, Elliott Brood, John Hiatt and Big Sugar. Festival organizers also created the Harvest 20th Anniversary Jazz Orchestra, a collective featuring some of the finest jazz musicians to come out of New Brunswick in the past two decades.

Club Wind & Kite
Lameque Island, in the northeastern part of the Acadian Peninsula, is considered one of Canada’s best places for kiteboarding. Whether you are an expert in the sport, or want to try it out for the first time, the constant winds and shallow water lagoons combine with the warm waters of the Baie des Chaleurs to create a perfect kiteboarding experience. Certified by the International Kiteboarding Organization, Club Wind & Kite won the 2008 provincial award for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism Product Development. Packages range from $89 for a one-hour lesson to $959 for a week’s stay, which includes seafront accommodation.

Bike park at Sugarloaf Provincial Park
Ride the chairlift to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, then take off down the mountain, guided by an experienced cyclist, past wildlife and scenic vistas. You can bring your own bike and helmet, or rent when you arrive. Either way, you are guaranteed to leave with a memorable experience and a few tips for improving your skill as a downhill rider.

To see what Julie Doiron picks as her favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in New Brunswick, see www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

RELATED ARTICLES
Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure

Summer Getaways: Alberta

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 3 Comments

Calgary Stampede (Photograph by Chris Bolin)

Canadian Death Race (July 30-Aug. 2)
Set on a 125-km course in the Rocky Mountains, this event is one of the world’s toughest adventure races. Competitors must conquer three mountain summits—a total of 5,200 m in elevation changes—and pass through pristine forests, mountain trails and snow-covered terrain. Training camps are offered June 11-13 and July 2-4. But don’t expect any big prizes at the finish line. Bragging rights for surviving is by far the biggest reward.

Banff National Park celebrates its 125th anniversary
This is Canada’s oldest national park and the most visited tourist destination in Alberta. To celebrate the park’s 125th anniversary, visitors can take part in writing and photo contests, travelling exhibitions, or embark on hiking, horseback riding, camping and climbing excursions. For something a little less rustic, unwind at the Upper Hot Springs, or tee off at the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, home to 27 holes in the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountains.

Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede (July 29-Aug. 2)
It may not exactly be the streets of Pamplona, Spain, but dozens of thrill-seekers will climb into the ring in Strathmore this summer for the eighth annual running of the bulls. If being chased by a herd of bulls sounds a bit too dangerous, sit in the grandstands and watch some 400 contestants compete in six rodeo events, including calf roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and ladies’ barrel racing. Canada’s third largest rodeo, held in this town 40 km east of Calgary, also features dog shows, a petting zoo, concerts, a farmers’ market and monster-truck rides.

Calgary Stampede (July 9-18)
This 10-day celebration of Calgary’s rough-and-ready image kicks off with a downtown parade including 150 floats and hundreds of horses. The world-famous stampede also features bull riding, barrel racing and rodeo competitions with $50,000 winner-take-all prizes up for grabs. New this year is an extreme cowboy race at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Other must-see attractions include an Indian Village, featuring native dance competitions, and the Rope Square, where free pancake breakfasts are served every morning from the back of chuckwagons

To see what Laureen Harper picks as her favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

RELATED ARTICLES
Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure

Summer Getaways: Newfoundland and Labrador

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 3 Comments

Hiking on Devil’s Bite Trail of the International Appalachian Trail (Paul; Wylezol/IATNL)

International Appalachian Trail
The Newfoundland section of the trail begins at Port aux Basques, on the province’s southwest coast, and extends north along the Long Range Mountains of the island’s west coast to Crow Head. Highlights include crossing the Fox Island River and climbing up to Cabox, the highest peak in Newfoundland, and the UNESCO World Heritage and National Park at L’Anse aux Meadows, site of the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America. Two new sections have opened: one across Lewis Hills and the Blow Me Down Mountains between Stephenville and Corner Brook, and another in the mountains and valleys east of Parsons Pond.

St. John’s Time (July 29—Aug. 8)
For 11 days in the middle of the summer, St. John’s hosts one of the biggest parties in Canada. The George Street Festival (July 29-Aug. 3) kicks off with taverns and pubs serving up good food and drink along with five consecutive nights of live outdoor entertainment on George Street’s historic cobblestones. Next on the agenda, the Royal St. John’s Regatta (Aug. 4) on beautiful Quidi Vidi Lake. The regatta, in its 194th year, is the oldest continuous sporting event in North America. The Buskers Festival (Aug. 6-8) features performances on three stages, and the Folk Festival (Aug. 6-8) in Bannerman Park wraps things up with shows and spectacles, including jugglers, magicians, acrobats, comedians, storytellers and dancers.

Gros Morne Summer Music (July 21-Aug. 22) and Gros Morne Theatre Festival (May 22-Sept. 18)
Hikers and site-seekers flock to Gros Morne to see the towering cliffs, stunning fjords and rocky terrain. But the area is also famous for its artistic flair. Summer Music, now in its eighth year, invites both up-and-coming and established musicians from around the globe. Meanwhile, the theatre festival will be showcasing nine productions in Cow Head on the shores of Shallow Bay. The plays, a celebration of Newfoundland, include a story about heroism during a shipwreck and a real-life murder mystery from the 1800s.

Fogo Island Film House
This new state-of-the-art e-cinema brings thousands of films to the remote community of Fogo Island, which lies 13 km off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. Starting in June, the theatre, created through a partnership between the Shorefast Foundation and the National Film Board of Canada, will host screenings and discussions exploring the links between art, technology, culture and community.

To see what Seamus O’Regan picks as his favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in Newfoundland and Labrador, see www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com

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Where famous Canucks go to play
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Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
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Summer Getaways: British Columbia

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 3 Comments

Brave the whitewater rapids along the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast (Darryl Leniuk/GETTY IMAGES)

Vancouver International Jazz Festival (June 25-July 4)
The province’s biggest music and arts event will celebrate its 25th anniversary with 400 concerts in outdoor parks, clubs, public plazas, concert halls and on the streets of Vancouver. More than 1,800 new and notable jazz greats from Canada and abroad will perform, including 16-year-old singing sensation Nikki Yanofsky, Chick Corea, a 14-time Grammy-winning pianist, legendary guitarist John Pizzarelli, and songstress Martha Wainwright. The festival will also feature 130 free concerts.

Inside Passage
One way to discover B.C.’s breathtaking geography, untamed wilderness and rich First Nations culture is to explore the Inside Passage, which stretches from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert. Cruise through the area by ferry and have the chance of seeing grizzly bears and whales in an area of the province still largely inaccessible by road.

Vancouver Biennale
This event, which includes installations throughout Vancouver and Richmond, brings the work of some of the best artists to the masses. Large public events this summer include American artist Jim Denevan’s attempt to create one of the world’s biggest freehand sand drawings at Spanish Bay (June 23), along with a recycled clothes installation at the Lath House inside the VanDusen Botanical Garden. Other eye-catching art includes a sculpture in Stanley Park entitled “Meeting,” created by Chinese artist Wang Shugang and featuring eight identical life-sized crouching figures in painted bronze.

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Cariboo Mountains that border Quesnel Lake, this area is famous for its rolling grasslands, hidden lakes and snow-capped mountains. An array of fjords and islands offers great kayaking, fishing, canoeing and whitewater rafting opportunities, including the legendary Bowron Lake Provincial Park canoe circuit. On land, there are plenty of parks and golf courses, as well as canyons and mountains to explore. And if you’re looking for a glimpse into the area’s historic past, the Cariboo Wagon Road on the Gold Rush Trail will take you to Barkerville, home to 125 heritage buildings, along with First Nation villages, museums and galleries.

To see what Jacob Hoggard picks as his favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in British Columbia, see www.hellobc.com

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Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure

Summer Getaway: Prince Edward Island

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 1 Comment

P.E.I. offers more than 70 adventures in the Once in a Lifetime Experiences program (John Sylvester Photography)

SummerFest (June 30-July 4)
The Island’s newest festival has something for every member of the family. For the younger kids, there’s a petting zoo, performances by the Doodlebops (a pre-school musical favourite), and a Swash Buckler Pirate Zone that features a haunted house. For teens, there’s the the Fringe Urban Zone with daily skateboard and BMX competitions. There’s a three-on-three hockey tournament on a synthetic ice surface, as well as the West Coast Lumberjack Show complete with log rolling. Plus a unique Cirque du Soleil performance that can only be seen in Charlottetown. In fact, Cirque signed a three-year contract this year to play at SummerFest. If you can’t make it to the show, you can catch Cirque du Soleil performers on Great George Street for free.

Once in a Lifetime Experiences
Have you ever boarded a fishing boat and headed out to sea to catch and cook your own lobster, tasted seaweed pie or tonged for oysters? Well, now you can. Tourism P.E.I.’s Once in a Lifetime Experiences program offers more than 70 different experiential tourism adventures for those wanting, and willing, to get their hands dirty while immersing themselves in authentic P.E.I. culture. If seafood isn’t your thing, other programs include learning how to build a wind chime, creating folk art out of recycled scrap metal with the help of a master craftsman, and making your own pinhole camera.

Hitting the links
P.E.I. is consistently ranked one of the top golf destinations on the continent. In fact, there are more than 20 courses within 45 minutes of each other, including the breathtaking and challenging Links at Crowbush, which overlooks the dunes of the north shore near Morell, as well as the Dundarave and Brudenell River courses near Georgetown.

Cavendish Beach Music Festival (July 7-11)
Only in its second year, this five-day outdoor music festival is picking up some serious steam. Headliners this year include country superstars Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. And don’t forget to bring your sunscreen and beachwear. The concerts take place just minutes from beautiful Cavendish beach on the Island’s northern shore. Five-day passes start at $271 for adults and $105 for children between the ages of 6 to 12.

To see what Michael Smith picks as his favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in Prince Edward Island, see www.tourismpei.com

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Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure

Summer Getaways: Manitoba

By Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze - Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00 AM - 0 Comments

Churchhill Manitoba (Travel Manitoba)

Winnipeg Fringe Festival (July 14-25)
Visit the Old Market Square in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District, where buskers, street performers and bands perform from noon to midnight for 12 days in July. The festival, founded in 1987, has become North America’s second-largest event of its kind. It features more than 1,000 local, national and international productions.

CN Canadian Women’s Open (Aug. 23-29)
It’s been 18 years since the world’s best female golfers played at Winnipeg’s St. Charles Country Club. But this summer, they return to compete for one of the biggest purses ($2.36 million) on the tour. Golfers will play both the MacKenzie course, designed by architect Alister MacKenzie, who helped construct Augusta National in Georgia (home of the Masters), and finish on the Donald Ross-designed south course. Many of the top players are expected to take part, including 15-year-old Alexis Thompson, currently the world’s No. 1 amateur. Tickets range from $15 for ground admission to $460 for a VIP package that includes a parking permit, four daily passes and access to the exclusive St. Charles Clubhouse and patio.

Winnipeg Fringe Festival (July 14-25)
Visit the Old Market Square in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District, where buskers, street performers and bands perform from noon to midnight for 12 days in July. The festival, founded in 1987, has become North America’s second-largest event of its kind. It features more than 1,000 local, national and international productions.

CN Canadian Women’s Open (Aug. 23-29)
It’s been 18 years since the world’s best female golfers played at Winnipeg’s St. Charles Country Club. But this summer, they return to compete for one of the biggest purses ($2.36 million) on the tour. Golfers will play both the MacKenzie course, designed by architect Alister MacKenzie, who helped construct Augusta National in Georgia (home of the Masters), and finish on the Donald Ross-designed south course. Many of the top players are expected to take part, including 15-year-old Alexis Thompson, currently the world’s No. 1 amateur. Tickets range from $15 for ground admission to $460 for a VIP package that includes a parking permit, four daily passes and access to the exclusive St. Charles Clubhouse and patio.

Churchill
Located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, Churchill (pop. 923) is not only the “polar bear capital of the world” but also a great destination for whale and bird watching. Throughout July and August, thousands of beluga whales migrate to the warmer waters of the Churchill River in search of food, and visitors can see these behemoths up close, from kayaks, while even more adventurous tourists can opt to snorkel alongside. Birdwatchers flock to Churchill to witness some 300 different species fly over the town on their migratory routes.

Lights on Broadway (Aug. 21-Sept. 11)
With its majestic elm trees and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, Broadway in downtown Winnipeg is the perfect setting for a new festival featuring great music, live entertainment and food. Highlights include a massive dance party on the opening weekend, along with an official lighting ceremony that will turn the surrounding trees into a dazzling array of colours. Over the next two weekends, musicians and artists will fill the streets, and movies will be projected on large public screens. And then, on the final weekend, Broadway will transform into a giant playground, complete with a hay maze, kid zone and a full-scale midway.

To see what Jon Montgomery picks as his favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in Manitoba, see www.travelmanitoba.com

RELATED ARTICLES
Where famous Canucks go to play
Ontario – Sandy beaches, big city sights
Saskatchewan – Look, Up in the sky
New Brunswick – Jazz riffs and tidal raves
Alberta – where to find your inner cowboy
Manitoba – Birdies, belugas and broadway
Newfoundland and Labrador – Enjoy the rocky roads
Prince Edward Island – Swings, sails and celebs
British Columbia – plenty of sights and sounds
Quebec – When the cirque comes to town
The North – An amazing race
Nova Scotia – Taste, the adventure